WEEKEND PREVIEWLafayette travels to Richmond, Va. to play nine-inning contests against VCU, Rutgers and Buffalo. The Maroon and White kick off the weekend against the Rams on Friday at 6:30 p.m., play Rutgers at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and conclude the weekend against the Bulls at 10 a.m. on Sunday. All three games will be played at The Diamond.

WEATHER FORECASTFriday’s forecast shows a high of 60 degrees. Saturday’s temperatures will approach 70 degrees with no chance of rain. Sunday has a 30 percent chance of rain with a high of 53 degrees.

SCOUTING VCUThe Rams hold a 13-3 mark thus far following a 21-14 win at Virginia Tech on Wednesday. James Bunn’s .397 batting average in 14 games leads VCU. Logan Farrar has started all 16 games and owns a .339 batting average.

SCOUTING RUTGERSRutgers comes into the weekend on a two-game winning streak following a 13-5 defeat of Hofstra on Tuesday. Senior Brian O’Grady paces the RU offense with a .440 batting average, two home runs and nine RBI.

SCOUTING BUFFALOThe Bulls enter the weekend with a 7-3 record following a 4-3 extra-innings loss to North Florida. Tyler Mautner leads Buffalo with a .419 batting average and is one of four Bulls to start all 10 games this season.

ALL-TIME SERIESThis weekend is thefirst time the Leopards will play VCU and Buffalo. The Leopards and Scarlet Knights all-time series stands at 81-81-1.

WHAT A RELIEFAs a group, Lafayette relievers have combined to post a XXX earned run average. Sophomores Ari Kaufman and Connor McMahon have not been charged with an earned run in four appearances. The same can be said for junior Cory Spera and rookie Trevor Houck in their respective two innings of work. Junior Alex Farina has made two appearances in relief, along with one start as he holds a 1-1 record with five strikeouts. In the Leopards’ last series at Fairleigh Dickinson, the bullpen pitched 7.1 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, while striking out five.

LEAGUE RECOGNITIONThree Lafayette players have been recognized by the Patriot League over the last two weeks. Sophomore righty Mitch Leeds was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Week on March 4 after he threw 6.2 scoreless innings in a 10 inning, 1-0 loss at George Washington. Senior left-hander Connor Ortolf claimed the same honor on Monday after he carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning en route to eight scoreless innings of one-hit ball in the series opener at Fairleigh Dickinson. David Bednar fanned five and walked one when he tossed 60 pitches in five shutout frames in his first career start to earn Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors.

CAPTAINSCenterfielder Andrew Santomauro, left-handed pitcher Connor Ortolf, and right-hander Cory Spera were tabbed as team captains for 2014. Santomauro started all 49 outings for the Leopards last season, batting .258 with 11 doubles and five triples. Ortolf was 1-5 in 10 starts last season. He was responsible for 35 runs over 55.0 innings, a 5.73 ERA, with 25 strikeouts and 28 walks. Spera made 14 appearances in relief last seasonregistering 15 earned runs, 12 strikeouts, and seven walks over 22.1 innings pitched.

ON DECKThe Maroon and White will be in Norfolk, Va. on Tuesday to challenge Norfolk State before home-and-home double headers against Penn next weekend.

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN- 17 home games, including 2 Patriot League series - Home Patriot League series with Navy and Bucknell - Non-conference home games vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, Temple, Penn, Villanova, Monmouth, North Carolina Central - Other non-conference games vs. VMI, La Salle, George Washington, Rider, Fairleigh Dickinson, VCU, Rutgers, Buffalo, Norfolk St., Penn, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Rider - Lafayette renews its series with rival Lehigh with a pair of doubleheaders in Bethlehem, Pa. on April 26 and 27. - One opponentent from the 2013 NCAA Tournament (Army) - First time opponents in Buffalo, North Carolina Central and VCU

Lafayette Athletics, as a partner in the mission of the College, provides an incredibly effective learning experience for student-athletes through competitive NCAA Division I athletics. Lafayette sponsors 23 varsity sports with more than 600 student-athletes.